East Toledo Family Center rewards staff, volunteers

Written by J. Patrick Eaken

February 16, 2012

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The East Toledo Family Center’s Service Award, which can be given to an individual, agency, or corporation, went to Eggleston-Meinert-Pavley Funeral Homes, Owens-Illinois, and Toledo Local Initiative Support Coalition (LISC) this year.

The awards were announced at the ETFC’s Annual Meeting Recognition Night.

Out of a $200,000 T-grant from LISC’s “Connecting the Pieces” project, the East Toledo Union was formed with Jodi Gross as its program coordinator. The grant was originally established to support the development of a neighborhood transformation plan to connect old and new neighborhoods in light of the pending development of the 127-acre Marina District.

Gross, who operates out of the family center, has lived in East Toledo her entire adult life, so she doesn’t need a lot of motivation for her newest job. Gross is a former employee of Sunoco’s (now Toledo Refinery) public affairs department.

The mission of ETU “is to capitalize on the unique assets, geographic location, talents, and skills of all entities, including residents, to improve the East Toledo community and to enhance communication and collaboration.”

Eggleston-Meinert-Pavley, founded in 1911, was first established at 603 Main Street in East Toledo and just celebrated 100 years of doing business.

Funeral home directors Dennis Pavley and wife Elizabeth “Lisa” K. Pavley (Meinert) say it’s important for Eggleston-Meinert-Pavley to be involved in the community. Director Lisa, who is founder Howard A. Eggleston’s great-granddaughter, just finished her sixth year as an ETFC board member. Her service there ended because of term limits, but that doesn’t mean the Pavleys won’t remain committed.

“It’s been a big mantra for my family from my Grandpa Kerm’s (Kermit Meinert) day to be community-involved,” Lisa said. “So many of our staff and ourselves are involved in so many activities, charities, and non-profits, it’s just very rewarding from that standpoint to give back to the community.”

Dennis said, “It was very important to her grandfather Kerm that we be involved. He was really involved with Warren Densmore and felt it was very important to help the kids. We’re very active — Lisa was on the board at the East Toledo Family Center.”

ETFC director Kim Partin said, “I just think they are committed to the east side. Even though they have facilities now in Oregon and Millbury, they are very dedicated and appreciate their heritage. We also did honor (Lisa) because she has been a very committed board member as well and has given great suggestions and has put in a lot of time over the past six years as an active board member.

“There are numerous activities they have been involved in and that goes unnoticed,” Partin continued. “Sometimes you have to thank companies and individuals like that. I need people to help me here, and those other board members who gave six years — that’s a long time.”

Chuck Padilla and Eric Wineland also just came off serving terms as board members.

“They all were very helpful,” Partin said. “For somebody to commit to six years and come to board meetings and be involved and raise money, is a big commitment and not everybody does that and spends the time to help non-profits in that way. These individuals surely did that.”

New board members are Terry Breymaier, Nick Huber, and returning member David Yenrick. Breymaier is retired from Eggleston-Meinert-Pavley and Yenrick is principal at Waite High School.

Individual awardsThe Senior Director Award went to retired Toledo Public Schools teacher and administrator Richard Fisher and his wife Sandy.

Program Awards were given in athletics to Devon Parish and Gage Schreiber, and in tutoring to Christopher and Dakota Detlef and Elizabeth Warner and Andrea Szymkowiak. All six are elementary students and the athletics winners were chosen by the ETFC athletic staff.

Henderson is a long time volunteer with the senior softball program, and Shimman is the receptionist and volunteers in the afternoons. Kling and Epps work with the cheerleading program.

Corey Brown, now in his 20s, has been involved as a volunteer since his pre-teen days, and his aunt, Tracy Garusos, is a staff member.

“(Brown) comes to every event and he’s always pitching in and helping,” Partin said.

Staff Awards went to Carrie Faylor, Dennis Holdren, and Carol Wagner. Faylor has been involved with the childcare program before and after school after starting out as a cook with the program before moving into programming. Wagner works with the family center’s finance department.

Holdren works with the senior center, and Partin says, “He does about anything you need him to do. He does our aid for our softball program, he does shelter house rentals, he drives the bus if you need him to.”

Cheryl Amborski received an award for 15 years of service, and Roger Dodsworth for 25 years.

The Reddish Leadership Award went to Hannah Rucki. It is named after Max Reddish, a long time East Toledo businessman, former Toledo city councilman, Lucas County commissioner, and a member of the board at the ETFC.

A statement about Reddish says, “He was more concerned with doing your best, rather than being the best. He wanted to build a strong character, not a strong team.”

Rucki has been part of the ETFC’s Strictly Teen Program for many years in which teenagers get together weekly and plan community volunteer service projects as well as fundraising. Every summer the group goes on a trip.

The Youth of the Year Award went to Amber Louy and Coach of the Year went to A.J. Fitch. Louy has also been involved with the Strictly Teen Program.

The East Toledo Neighborhood House Alumni Scholarship Award went to Waite High School senior Lauren Miller. She has a 4.6 GPA, is involved in cheerleading, soccer, softball, National Honor Society, student government, and is planning to attend the University of Findlay in the fall.

“I remember meeting her when she was in third grade and it was when I was the cheerleading coach here for the center,” Partin said. “She was one of my girls that year, and she was sure a special little girl then. So, it’s wonderful to see her doing so well in her senior year at Waite.

“She’s just a good East Toledo kid and is really doing well for herself and has a great mom and dad (Dan and Teresa Miller).”

Pic-ETFC4East Toledo Family Center assistant director Roger Dodsworth, Lisa Pavley of Eggleston-Meinert-Pavley Funeral Home, and ETFC director Kim Partin. The funeral home was one of three recipients of the family center’s Service Award.